Page 59 of Time Out

“Our quarterback, Cole Buchanan’s family, has awesome seats, and with the passing of a dear friend early in the season, he hates that seat being empty. It’d be with his parents, his fiancée, Eden, and son, Jasper. I usually go to their house for dinner on Sundays after home games, so you could join us for that, too…”

It’d mean her getting to know my friends. People I thought of as a second family.

“You’re giving me a lot to think about these days, you know.”

“Yeah, but you came here willingly, so I’m betting you’re already going to move in with me.”

“You think?” Her brows rose right as a yawn hit. Screw staying up until midnight. She needed sleep. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for that, and yes, I’m pretty confident that will happen.”

“Why?”

Oh, that was an easy one even if we were getting off topic. “Because you like me, even if you’re trying not to. Because you want me involved in this pregnancy and even though you’re working on your independence, which is awesome, by the way and not something I’d change, you still want the help. Want to be taken care of.”

She blushed then, and I fought against leaning in, brushing my thumb along her cheek where color rose the more she gaped at me. I had her pegged easily, and we both knew it. Getting her to admit it would be a different story altogether.

“How do you know all that?”

I sat up and moved closer. She hadn’t denied a single thing. “Because I listened to you that night we were together. I felt something. We had something, and I know the kind of woman I want to be with would be all of those things. The kind of woman who could make me laugh and have my respect, the kind of woman who I’d want to be the one having my children. I want you, Maggie, and I’ll play this friend game as long as you insist on it, but don’t for one single second that I’m not holding back, waiting for that moment when you tell me I can kiss you, that you’re ready for something more.”

“I’m scared.”

“I know that, too, which is why you’re in charge of the pace here, and nothing has to be decided tonight—not even going to the game next week. But if you do want to head to the game, I’ve got the tickets for you. They’re great people, and I have a feeling you’ll love Eden, his fiancée.”

I could practically see her mind spin with my shift in conversation. But she’d soon learn I wasn’t a liar. I wanted her. Wanted her more than I could imagine I could ever want someone and it wasn’t purely about having her body in my hands again, or beneath mine.

She’d set that pace, though. I had no problems waiting.

“I’ll consider it,” she whispered, and her eyes fluttered close.

“Go to bed, Maggie. I’ll see you next year.”

She laughed and pushed to her feet. “I’m not a very fun New Year’s Eve date, am I?”

“You’re the best date, and we’ll have more of them.”

I sat back on the couch and draped my arms over the back of it to stop from reaching out for her.

“Good night, Davis,” she yawned as she spoke, blushing again.

“Night, spicy mama.”

Her chuckle followed her down the hall and as soon as she was gone, I groaned with pent-up frustration. I could wait. Had no problems doing it. Didn’t mean my libido had the same patience. It was screaming at me to chase her, haul her to my bed and kiss her senseless until we were ringing in the new year with her calling out my name.

Chapter 18

Maggie

I should have gone directly to bed. Should have used the restroom, slipped into the T-shirt Davis had left for me on the dresser in his guest room and gone straight to bed. Actually, I should have called an Uber and headed home, not that I thought for one second Davis would let me do that that late or on New Year’s Eve night when the streets would be insane.

What I absolutely should not have done was slip into Davis’s Nashville Steel T-shirt and brush my hands down my stomach, pretending it was him touching my body or kissing his way across my sensitive flesh. My body was equal parts exhausted and awake, and I shuffled on my feet, staring at the closed bedroom, trying to do the right thing versus the thing my body was seeking.

Pleasure.

Excitement.

To remember the feel of him around me and on me and in me.

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